The Columbus Blue Jackets, led by Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson, are preparing to take the ice against Max Domi, Jonathan Drouin, and the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre in an Eastern Conference showdown. The Sports Network will broadcast the game, which gets underway at 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 19.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Montreal Canadiens Odds
Columbus is 33-25 straight up (SU) and has netted moneyline bettors 1.6 units this year. Through 58 regular season matches, 28 of its games have gone under the total, while 23 have gone over and just six have pushed. This 2018-19 Blue Jackets team is 18-10 SU on the road.
Columbus has converted on just 15.7 percent of its power play chances this year, a figure that places them in the bottom-5 overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, it has the fifth-best penalty kill in the league, and it has successfully killed off 82.9 percent of its penalties..
Averaging 25.9 saves per game with a .904 save percentage, Sergei Bobrovsky (24-18-1) has been the best option in goal for Columbus this year. If head coach John Tortorella chooses to rest him, however, the team may go with Joonas Korpisalo (9-12-2), who has a .896 save percentage and 3.07 goals against average this year.
On the other side of the ice, Montreal is 31-28 straight up (SU) and has earned 5.0 units for moneyline bettors this year. Through 59 regular season contests, 31 of its games have gone under the total, while 26 have gone over and just two have pushed. It’s 17-14 SU at home this season.
The Canadiens have converted on just 13.0 percent of their power play opportunities this year, a figure that places them in the bottom overall among NHL teams. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked 22nd overall, and it’s successfully killed off 79.4 percent of all opponent power plays.
Carey Price (27.3 saves per game) has been the top option in the crease for the Canadiens. Price has 23 wins, 22 losses, and five overtime losses to his name and has registered a .916 save percentage and 2.58 goals against average this year.
Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Montreal Canadiens Betting Predictions
NHL Tip: SU Winner – Canadiens, O/U – Under
Betting Notes
- Six of Montreal’s last ten games have been decided by two or more goals, and the club is 2-4 overall in those games.
- The Blue Jackets are 18-9 when they serve fewer penalty minutes than their opponent and 27-21 in games where they serve fewer than 10 penalty minutes, in total.
- For both of these clubs, the over has hit in three of their past five outings.
- Columbus has averaged 6.8 giveaways over its last five home games, right in line with its season average of 7.1 giveaways per game (ranked second).
- Montreal is ranked 28th this season with 12.3 giveaways per game. That figure has regressed lately, as it’s averaged 16.5 giveaways over its last 10 games and 15.4 giveaways over its last five.
- The Habs this season have handed the fourth-most hits in the league (27.1 per game), but that number has jumped up to 30.6 over their past five games as the home team.
